CARROLLTON, Ga. – The University of West Georgia announced Monday that associate athletic director and men's basketball head coach Mike Cooney will transition full-time into an administrative role to help lead the university's efforts to become a top-50 Division II contender.

Cooney, who led the Wolves for 11 seasons, will bring his passion and leadership efforts to his role as associate athletic director. UWG athletic director Daryl Dickey said a nationwide search is underway to fill the head basketball coaching position.

“We would like to thank Mike for his many years of service in our men’s basketball program,” Dickey said. “If you look at his 21 years with the program, there have been a lot of good times and a lot of exciting basketball to watch, and for that, we are greatly appreciative. Mike's success as a coach and his knowledge of athletics make him a great fit for helping to lead our efforts to become one of the nation's premier Division II programs.”

Cooney recently completed his 11th year as the Wolves' head coach, posting a 14-14 record and earning a berth in the Gulf South Conference tournament. His finishes his tenure with an overall record of 168-148, including bids to the NCAA Division II tournament following the 2012, 2015 and 2016 seasons. Cooney's 2016 team captured the Gulf South Conference (GSC) championship.

Prior to becoming head coach, Cooney worked 10 seasons as an assistant under former coach Ed Murphy. In total, Cooney served on the UWG bench for 21 years and 608 games, winning 370. During that span, UWG posted six 20-win seasons and appeared in five NCAA tournaments. The highlight was 2002, a season that saw UWG win the GSC title and the South Region championship. That team advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the only time in the program’s history.

A reception for Wolves fans and supporters to express their gratitude to Cooney for his many years of coaching service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, on the concourse of The Coliseum.

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UWG serves more than 13,500 students from across Georgia, 37 other states and 72 countries. Perennially ranked by the Princeton Review as one of the nation's top universities, West Georgia offers 88 fields of study, including business, nursing, education, STEM and the arts. It generates a regional economic impact of more than $564 million and provides a safe, quality and affordable college experience that transforms lives. Visit westga.edu to learn more.